Tech for Retail 2026 preview: retail leaders and technology innovators set to meet in Paris
Tech for Retail will return to Paris on 30th November and 1st December, bringing together more than 420 exhibitors, 15,000 retail decision-makers and over 200 conferences at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. For its sixth edition, the European retail technology show will place artificial intelligence, omnichannel commerce, supply chain transformation, data and the augmented store at the heart of its programme.
A strong international line-up will complement a French retail perspective, with senior executives from across Europe and global retail organisations taking to the Main Stage.
AI, innovation and the future of retail
The event will open on 30th November with Alexandre Bompard, Chairman and CEO at Carrefour, setting the tone for two days focused on the technologies reshaping the retail industry. He will be followed by Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, L’Oréal’s Chief Innovation & Prospective Officer, Artefact CEO and founder Vincent Luciani, and Bernard Osta, CEO at second-hand fashion marketplace Vestiaire Collective.
AI will be a recurring theme throughout the programme, moving beyond experimentation towards practical applications across retail operations, customer experience and commerce. Sessions will explore how technology can deliver measurable impact, from product data and personalisation to new approaches to customer engagement.
The luxury and beauty sectors will also feature prominently. A dedicated session, The Reinvention of Luxury through Technology, will bring together Nathalie Cabut from L’Oréal, Elise Ducret from Carita and Pascale Miguet from Publicis Luxe to discuss how technology is changing the luxury experience.
A truly European perspective
International speakers will bring a broader perspective to the conversations around retail transformation.
On 1st December, Mikko Kärkkäinen, Group CEO and Co-Founder at Finnish retail technology company RELEX Solutions, will open the second day with a keynote focused on supply chain and logistics. His appearance reflects the growing importance of technology in forecasting, planning and building more agile retail operations.
The programme will also feature Nadine Graf, President Europe, UK & Ireland & Emerging Markets at The Estée Lauder Companies, and Michelle Lamberti, Chief Omnicommerce Officer at ADEO. Their sessions will add an international dimension to discussions around beauty, customer journeys and the convergence of physical and digital commerce.
Food retail will have a strong presence too. Martín Tolcachir, CEO at Grupo DIA, Fredy El Hakim, IT Procurement Manager at Mercadona, and Nacho Gonzalez Hernandez, CEO and Board Member at Spanish retail association AECOC, will discuss how technology can move from innovation to practical, scalable impact.
From the augmented store to sustainable retail
The programme will look beyond AI alone, reflecting the increasingly interconnected challenges facing retailers. A session on the augmented store will examine the balance between retail media, digitalisation and energy efficiency, with Miguel Ángel González Gisbert from Carrefour, Sébastien Fourcy from Vusion and Marc Taieb from Wifirst. Other sessions will address sustainability, circular economy, regulation, recommerce and new revenue models.
The show will also explore the evolution of product data as a strategic asset, the role of AI in content and merchandising, and the impact of technology on European marketplaces and omnichannel strategies.
Alongside the conference programme, Tech for Retail will offer visitors access to more than 420 exhibitors and 75+ startups, as well as thematic guided tours designed to help retailers identify relevant technologies and solutions. The event will also host Innovation, AI, Customer Experience and Startup Awards, highlighting technologies and companies shaping the next phase of retail.
With senior retail executives, technology providers and international speakers gathered under one roof, Tech for Retail 2026 will offer a European view of how technology is moving from experimentation to implementation, and how retailers can turn innovation into tangible business value.
